Rockwell Automation and Lida Technology Partner to Advance Smart Manufacturing of Vacuum Insulating
Time:2026-08-28 Browse: 1
Published: August 28, 2026
Rockwell Automation has announced a strategic partnership with Shenzhen Lida Technology Industry Co., Ltd., a technology company specializing in advanced manufacturing solutions for vacuum insulating glass (VIG).
The partnership will focus on three key areas: digital production line upgrades, AI-driven quality optimization, and global manufacturing capabilities. By combining Rockwell Automation's industrial automation and digital transformation technologies with Lida Technology's expertise in vacuum insulating glass manufacturing, the two companies aim to improve production efficiency, product quality, and global manufacturing operations.
The cooperation also highlights the growing role of industrial automation and digital technologies in the production of advanced low-carbon building materials.
Vacuum Insulating Glass Creates New Opportunities for Energy-Efficient Buildings
Vacuum insulating glass is manufactured by creating a near-vacuum space between two glass panes. Compared with conventional double glazing, vacuum insulating glass can provide improved thermal and acoustic insulation performance.
As demand for energy-efficient buildings continues to grow, VIG is gaining attention as an advanced building material for improving building energy performance.
However, manufacturing vacuum insulating glass requires specialized processes and tightly controlled production conditions. Consistent product quality and production efficiency therefore depend heavily on process control, automation, equipment integration, and manufacturing data.
Shenzhen Lida Technology focuses on the research, development, advanced manufacturing, and global industrialization of fully tempered vacuum insulating glass. The company is among a limited number of manufacturers with capabilities covering both VIG products and automated production lines.
As Lida Technology expands production capacity and international business, the company is also facing increasing requirements for production efficiency, quality management, and coordinated operations across different regions.
Rockwell Automation Supports Digital Transformation of VIG Production
Under the new strategic partnership, Rockwell Automation will provide its expertise in industrial automation, digital transformation, and smart manufacturing to support the modernization of Lida Technology's vacuum glass production systems.
The two companies will work around Lida Technology's existing continuous production lines to optimize manufacturing processes and improve operational efficiency.
Digital technologies will be applied to production data and process management, allowing manufacturers to gain greater visibility into production conditions and identify opportunities for process optimization.
For an automated VIG production line, the ability to collect and analyze production data can be particularly valuable because manufacturing quality depends on the consistency of multiple process parameters.
By connecting automation systems with higher-level digital technologies, manufacturers can move from isolated equipment control toward a more integrated production management architecture.
AI to Support Quality Control and Product Consistency
Another important area of the partnership is the use of artificial intelligence and data analytics for quality optimization.
The companies plan to explore AI-based data analysis and intelligent models for key manufacturing processes. The objective is to strengthen quality control and improve product consistency and yield.
In an advanced manufacturing environment, large amounts of production data can be generated by machines, sensors, controllers, inspection systems, and other equipment.
Analyzing this information can help manufacturers identify relationships between process parameters and product quality.
Potential applications of industrial AI include:
Production condition monitoring
Process parameter analysis
Quality trend identification
Abnormal condition detection
Manufacturing optimization
Yield improvement
Data-driven process management
AI does not replace industrial automation. Instead, it can complement existing control systems by providing additional analytical capabilities above the machine and control layers.
Digital Manufacturing for Global Production
The partnership also extends beyond individual production lines.
As Lida Technology expands into overseas markets, the company needs to manage manufacturing operations across different locations while maintaining consistent production standards.
Rockwell Automation plans to support this process through its global resources and cross-industry manufacturing experience.
The cooperation will explore capabilities including:
Digital simulation and production-line design
Global supply chain coordination
Manufacturing engineering
Global equipment delivery
Remote manufacturing operations
Digital production management
These capabilities can help manufacturers standardize processes and improve coordination between domestic and overseas production facilities.
For companies expanding internationally, digital manufacturing systems can provide a way to maintain greater visibility into production performance while supporting localized manufacturing operations.
Supporting the Global Expansion of Vacuum Glass Manufacturing
The strategic partnership comes as advanced building materials gain greater attention in global energy-efficiency initiatives.
Vacuum insulating glass can contribute to energy-efficient building designs by improving the thermal insulation performance of windows and building envelopes.
However, expanding VIG manufacturing internationally requires more than product technology. Manufacturers also need reliable production equipment, standardized processes, quality management systems, supply-chain coordination, and technical support.
Industrial automation and digital manufacturing technologies can provide part of the infrastructure required to scale production across different markets.
By combining Lida Technology's VIG manufacturing expertise with Rockwell Automation's industrial automation and digital capabilities, the partnership is intended to support the further industrialization and international deployment of vacuum insulating glass production.
Rockwell Automation Strengthens Support for Chinese Manufacturers Going Global
The partnership also reflects Rockwell Automation's broader focus on supporting Chinese manufacturers as they expand internationally.
Shi An, President of Rockwell Automation China, said that supporting Chinese companies in their international expansion has become an important focus for the company.
As manufacturers enter overseas markets, requirements related to compliance, standards, production management, and global operations can become increasingly important.
Rockwell Automation's international experience and global resource network are intended to help customers address these requirements as they develop manufacturing operations outside China.
For Chinese industrial equipment manufacturers and advanced-material companies, this type of partnership can provide access to global automation technologies while supporting the standardization and digitalization of manufacturing processes.
A Broader Trend Toward Intelligent Manufacturing
The cooperation between Rockwell Automation and Lida Technology reflects a broader trend in industrial manufacturing.
Manufacturers are increasingly moving beyond traditional automation toward integrated systems that combine:
Industrial Automation + Production Data + Artificial Intelligence + Digital Manufacturing
Traditional automation focuses primarily on controlling machines and production processes. Digital manufacturing adds data collection, visualization, analysis, and centralized management. AI can then provide additional capabilities for identifying patterns and optimizing production decisions.
This layered approach can help manufacturers improve production visibility while creating a foundation for continuous process optimization.
For advanced-material manufacturers such as VIG producers, these capabilities may become increasingly important as production scales and products enter international markets.
What This Partnership Means for Industrial Automation
The Rockwell Automation and Lida Technology partnership demonstrates how industrial automation is expanding into specialized manufacturing industries.
Rather than focusing only on machine control, modern smart manufacturing projects increasingly address the complete production lifecycle, including:
Production-line automation
Industrial data collection
Process optimization
AI-based quality analysis
Digital simulation
Manufacturing execution
Supply-chain coordination
Remote operation
Global production management
The combination of these technologies can help manufacturers build more connected and scalable production environments.
For industrial automation engineers and system integrators, the project also illustrates the importance of connecting control systems with higher-level digital platforms when manufacturers need to scale production and maintain consistent quality across multiple locations.
Conclusion
Rockwell Automation and Shenzhen Lida Technology Industry Co., Ltd. have entered into a strategic partnership focused on advancing the digitalization and intelligent manufacturing of vacuum insulating glass.
The cooperation will focus on digital production-line optimization, AI-driven quality management, and global manufacturing capabilities.
For Lida Technology, the partnership is expected to strengthen manufacturing efficiency, product quality, and international operational capabilities. For Rockwell Automation, the project provides another example of applying industrial automation and digital technologies to advanced-material manufacturing.
As demand for energy-efficient building materials continues to develop, the integration of industrial automation, AI, production data, and digital manufacturing could become an increasingly important factor in scaling VIG production and supporting manufacturers entering global markets.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is vacuum insulating glass?
Vacuum insulating glass, or VIG, is a type of insulating glass that uses a near-vacuum space between glass panes to reduce heat transfer and improve acoustic insulation compared with conventional glazing solutions.
What is Rockwell Automation providing in this partnership?
Rockwell Automation will support Lida Technology with industrial automation, digital transformation, AI-related data analysis, digital simulation, supply-chain coordination, and global manufacturing capabilities.
How can AI improve vacuum glass manufacturing?
AI and industrial data analytics can help manufacturers analyze production conditions, identify quality trends, detect abnormal conditions, and optimize process parameters. The specific results depend on the available production data, equipment, and manufacturing process.
Why is digitalization important for VIG production?
Vacuum insulating glass requires specialized manufacturing processes and consistent quality control. Digital production systems can improve production visibility, data collection, process management, and coordination between different manufacturing operations.
Does this partnership focus only on the Chinese market?
No. One of the stated objectives of the partnership is to support Lida Technology's international expansion and global manufacturing operations.
What industries can benefit from vacuum insulating glass?
VIG is primarily associated with energy-efficient building applications. Its improved thermal and acoustic insulation characteristics can make it relevant to high-performance buildings and other applications where building-envelope performance is important.
